Pollution control system

ABSTRACT

A POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR CONNECTION TO THE EXHAUST OF AN AUTOMOBILE OR HEATING PLANT CONSUMING FOSSIL FUELS CONSISTING OF AN AFTERBURNER COMPARTMENT INCLUDING A GLOW HEAD DISPOSED WITHIN THE AFTERBURNER COMPARTMENT FOR IGNITING UNBURNED EXHAUST GASES. THE AFTERBURNER COMPARTMENT ALSO INCLUDES AN AIR INLET TO PERMIT OXYGEN TO MIX WITH THE UNBURNED EXHAUST GASES TO AID IN THEIR IGNITION. AT THE OUTPUT OF THE AFTERBURNER COMPARTMENT IS INCLUDED A COOLING AND MIXING CHAMBER SO THAT THE EXHAUST GASES CAN BE FED INTO A PNEUMATIC PUMP WHERE THEY WILL BE APPLIED TO A FILTERING SYSTEM PREFERABLY CONSISTING OF CHARCOAL BEFORE THE GAS ENTERS INTO THE ATMOSPHERE.

May 30, 1972 J. ROSSEL POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM Filed Feb. 12, 1971 CRANKCASE COVER COOLER :3! v I h I O PNEUMATIC CENTRIFUGAL ASBESTOS PUMP MlXING JACKET CHAMBER f g b" 22 2| COOLER 20 23 6 \a f 4r N 25 1 A W. Z: 'I I8 27 f l9 i 1 v E x FROM EXHAUST MANIFOLD CHARCOAL FILTER JOSEPH ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofice 3,666,422 Patented May 30, 1972 3,666,422 POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEM A pollution control system for connection to the exhaust of an automobile or heating plant consuming fossil fuels consisting of an afterburner compartment including a glow head disposed within the afterburner compartment for igniting unburned exhaust gases. The afterburner compartment also includes an air inlet to permit oxygen to mix with the unburned exhaust gases to aid in their ignition. At the output of the afterburner compartment is included a cooling and mixing chamber so that the exhaust gases can be fed into a pneumatic pump where they will be applied to a filtering system preferably consisting of charcoal before the gas enters into the atmosphere.

This invention relates to a pollution control system which is particularly adapted for treatment of the exhaust gases from an automobile or other fossil fuel burning plant.

Conventional pollution control systems which treat the exhaust gases of automobiles, incinerators, and heating plants generally utilize some type of filtration and cooling system before allowing the gases to enter the atmosphere. In some cases, steam or water is sprayed on the gases in order to precipitate out smoke particles and vapors which may be harmful to the environment. Some conventional pollution control systems utilize cyclonic separators which remove the solid particles from the gas prior to their introduction into a catalytic converter. Other types of pollution systems utilize compressors and post ignition systems in an attempt to burn off unburned gases contained in the exhaust.

Most of these conventional pollution control systems suffer from a disadvantage in that they are very complex in design, and expensive to construct and operate in conjunction with fossil fuel burning systems.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an inexpensive and simplified pollution control system which utilizes a pneumatic pump which pulls exhaust gases and air through an afterburner section having a glow head for igniting unburned exhaust gases. The gases are then further mixed with air after being cooled, and then pumped into a final filtering system. The pollution control system of the subject invention may be adapted for use in conjunction with the exhaust gases from incinerators or fuel oil burners, or connected to the exhaust manifold of an internal combustion engine.

It is therefore an object according to the present invention to provide a pollution control system having an afterburner chamber with a glow head capable of mixing air and unburned exhaust gases so that these gases will ignite before being filtered into the atmosphere.

It is another object according to the present invention to provide a pollution control system which includes a pneumatic pump which combines air with hot exhaust gases to cool the gases before being filtered.

It is still another object according to the present invention to provide a pollution control system which is simple in design, inexpensive in cost, and reliable in operation.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in connection with the accompanying drawing which discloses the embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is designed for the purpose of illustration only and not as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawing, wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the two views:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the pollution control system according to the present invention applied to an internal combustion engine; and

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the pollution control system of FIG. 1 taken through section 2-2.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an internal combustion engine 10' disposed within automobile 15, wherein the exhaust gases of engine 10 are applied through manifold 12 into afterburner section 16. Fumes from the crankcase of the vehicle enter through pipe 11 into coupling pipe 9 and are also fed into afterburner chamber 16. Afterburner chamber 16 includes on its outer surface a thermal insulating layer preferably formed of asbestos so as to maintain a high temperature within chamber 16 due to the exhaust gases. Chamber 16 also includes apertures 17 formed at one end for permitting air to enter chamber 16. Disposed approximately in the center of chamber 16 is a glow head 19 which is preferably supported by means of rods 18 in the direct path of the hot exhaust gases. Glow head 19 is preferably constructed of a high temperature metal and is designed to glow with red brightness to ignite unburned gases from the crankcase and the exhaust manifold. The output of afterburner chamber 16 is connected to a linear cooler 20 having a plurality of radial fins disposed along its length. The output of cooler 20 is fed into a mixing chamber 21 which also includes apertures 26 to permit cool air to mix with the exhaust gases. The combined gases are fed into the input of a pneumatic centrifugal pump 22 whose output is connected to pipe 13. Pump 22 includes an impeller 23 connected to shaft 27. A pulley wheel 25 secured to shaft 27 is driven by means of fan belt 24 directly from internal combustion engine 10'.

The output of pipe 13 is connected to a flat final filter which preferably includes activated charcoal. The exhaust gases are fed into a central opening within the filter 28 and passed through charcoal layers to emerge finally through apertures 14 in the upper and lower surfaces of the filter.

Pneumatic pump 22 is designed to maintain a reduced pressure within afterburner chamber 16 so that air will enter into apertures 17 to aid in the ignition of volatile exhaust gases. Since the pump is directly connected by means of belt 24 to the engine, it will run faster at higher engine speeds as more exhaust gases are produced. The pollution control system of the subject invention is particularly adaptable for internal combustion engines and other fossil fuel bearing devices since it creates very little back pressure on the engine due to the fact that pneumatic centrifugal pump 22 aids in removing the gases from the exhaust manifold.

While only a few embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious that many changes and modifications may be made thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A pollution control system for connection to the exhaust output of a fossil fuel burning device comprising;

an afterburner having a glow head disposed in the center thereof and coupled to the exhaust output, cooling means coupled to the output of said afterburner chamber,

pump means coupled to the output of said cooling means, and,

filter means coupled to the output of said pump so that the operation of said pump pulls exhaust gases through said afterburner and said cooling means and pumps the gases through said filter means.

2. The pollution control system as recited in claim I, wherein said afterburner includes a plurality of air inlet apertures permitting air to mix with the exhaust gases.

3. The pollution control system as recited in claim 2, wherein said afterburner includes a thermally insulated jacket to maintain elevated temperatures.

4. The pollution control system as recited in claim 1, wherein said cooling means comprises a plurality of radial fins disposed along a linear pipe.

5. The pollution control system as recited in claim 1,

wherein said filter means comprises a flat filter having a 1 wherein said filter means additionally comprises an activated charcoal filter.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,109,237 2/ 1938 Lustig 603 15 2,203,554 6/ 1940 Uhri 23277 C 2,806,347 9/ 1957 Pertile 603 15 3,100,146 8/ 1963 Huntington 603 1 1 3,214,902 1 1/ 1965 Maring 60297 3,228,755 1/ 1966 Lottinville 60-315 3,593,499 7/ 1971 Kile 603 1 1 DOUGLAS HALRT, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R.

60-297, 303, 311, 315; 55Digest 30 

